In Depth

The Zapatista Movement & Chiapas -- In January 1994, Indians from this area rebelled against the Mexican government over health care, education, land distribution, and representative government. Their organization, the Zapatista Liberation Army, known as EZLN (Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional), and its leader, Subcomandante Marcos, have become emblematic of the problems Mexico has with social justice. In the last couple of years, the rhetoric of armed revolt has ended, and the Zapatistas are talking about building a broad leftist coalition -- but not a political party. What this means for Mexican politics is not clear, but for travelers it means not having to worry about political unrest.